The hot deformation behavior and microstructure evolution of 430 ferritic stainless steel (430 FSS) were investigated within the temperature range of 950°C~1150°C at the strain rate of 0.01 s-1, 0.1 s-1, and 1.0 s-1using a thermo-mechanical simulator. The effects of temperature and strain rate on the flow behavior and microstructures of 430 ferritic stainless steel at reduction ratio 50 % were analyzed. Results indicated that the apparent stress exponent and the apparent activation energy of the steel were about 1.08 and 344 kJ/mol, respectively. The hot deformation equation of 430 was considered as. There was a relationship between the softening mechanism and Zener-Hollomon parameter (abbreviated Z). With the Z value increasing from 4.30×1010to 5.00×1014, the hot deformation peak stress correspondingly increased from 10.74 MPa to 76.02MPa.